DraftKings MLB Picks – August 16th

That’s more like it! Last night’s lineup was a beauty and was anchored by a massive two-home run night from Carlos Santana. Josh Donaldson chipped in a three run bomb himself while Wilson Ramos went yard at almost a minimum price, going lightyears beyond his value. Gio Gonzalez and Dinelson Lamet both earned wins and combined for 11 strikeouts and just three earned runs against on the night. Let’s make it two great lineups in a row on tonight’s nine-game slate!

*With no Rockies or Rangers in this lineup I am recommending these plays for GPP tournaments tonight.

P – Yu Darvish (LAD) – $13,700 vs. CWS

This is a fairly easy, albeit expensive, call tonight as Yu Darvish takes his massive strikeout rate as a Dodgers into tonight’s contest with the strikeout-happy White Sox. Over the last month, Darvish has struck out 37% of the left-handed batters he has seen and 29% of the right-handed batters he has faced. The White Sox as a team have struck out in 26% of their at-bats against righties over the last month according to their projected lineup for tonight’s game. Nothing more to be said here.

P – Jaime Garcia (NYY) – $5,800 vs. NYM

Simply had to go cheaper with the second starter tonight but I believe Garcia is in a nice spot against the Mets. The Mets have just a .319 wOBA over the last month against left-handed pitching and Garcia has simply dominated lefties lately and allowed just a .148 ISO to righties over the last month. He isn’t the highest strikeout upside guy on the slate, but he should be able to keep the Mets in check while letting Darvish handle the strikeout department tonight.

C – Austin Barnes (LAD) – $3,400 vs. CWS

Another Dodgers matchup against a lefty and another Dodgers value stack to utilize. Like usual, it begins here with Barnes who has been a lefty-masher all season long. Barnes sports a .278 ISO and .934 OPS on the season against left-handed pitching, excellent numbers for a guy under the 3.5K price tag tonight.

1B – Carlos Santana (CLE) – $3,800 vs. MIN *Weather concern*

Don’t fix it if it isn’t broken. After two homers in last night’s game, Santana has another fine matchup tonight against Twins’ righty Kyle Gibson. Gibson has been horrendous at home against lefties this season, yielding a .424 wOBA, 1.82 HR/9 and pitching to a 5.97 FIP as well. After his two homers last night Santana now sports a .207 ISO, .833 OPS and a .356 wOBA against right-handed pitching. He should be a lower owned player with a lot of people reaching for Encarnacion in this stack.

2B – Logan Forsythe (LAD) – $3,400 vs. CWS

Next up in the Dodgers stack is Forsythe who has slowed down some against lefties but still owns a very nice .903 OPS against them on the season. Forsythe does have hits in four of his last five games and is certainly a viable option considering his price as part of a Dodgers stack against White Sox lefty Carlos Rodon tonight.

3B – Jose Ramirez (CLE) – $4,900 vs. MIN *Weather Concern*

Ramirez comes into this lineup for the same reason Santana is, and that is to take advantage of Gibson and his immense struggles at home against lefties. After all, Ramirez owns a .243 ISO, .924 OPS and a .386 wOBA on the season against right-handed pitching. He went 0 for 5 in last night’s lineup, however quality bats like Ramirez don’t go 0-for twice in a row too often so let’s expect more out of the Indians most consistent hitter tonight.

SS – Kike Hernandez (LAD) – $3,400 vs. CWS

My favorite lefty-masher in all of baseball, Hernandez comes into tonight’s lineup likely boasting plenty of confidence against Rodon. The reason for that confidence would be the two homers he hit off of Rodon in their only two at-bats against one another back in Chicago a few weeks back. Hernandez sports a .351 ISO and .961 OPS on the season against left-handed pitching and is an easy inclusion in this lineup.

OF – Jay Bruce (CLE) – $4,600 vs. MIN *Weather Concern*

Completing this mini-stack is the lefty-swinging Bruce who had himself a night last night with two doubles and a stolen base. Bruce has clobbered right-handed pitching this season to the tune of a .267 ISO and .889 OPS, the second best numbers on the Tribe against righties this season. Look for this stack to do plenty of damage in an excellent matchup tonight.

OF – Scooter Gennett (CIN) – $4,100 vs. CHC

Gennett is having a career year this season, especially against righties as he enters play tonight sporting a .265 ISO, .928 OPS and a .388 wOBA against right-handed pitching this season. Those numbers are good for second best on the Reds behind only Joey Votto. Gennett will face John Lackey who, like Kyle Gibson, has been destroyed by lefties at home to the tune of a 2.53 HR/9 and a .413 wOBA against, making Gennett a very nice play tonight.

OF – Mallex Smith (TB) – $2,900 vs. TOR

While Smith did his best work earlier in the season right after being called up to the majors, he still boasts plenty of stolen base upside in tonight’s matchup against right-hander Marcus Stroman. Stroman has allowed nine steals this season and Smith already has 16 steals on the season which sounds like a recipe for some stolen bases as a low owned player this evening.

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